Update March 21, 7:20 p.m.
The National Weather Service removed the tornado watch designation for Bexar County around 7:15 Monday night.
Several surrounding counties, including Wilson, Guadalupe, Gonzales and Kames remain under a tornado watch through 10 p.m.
Unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down in Kingsbury, about an hour northeast of San Antonio, has caused injuries and structural damage.
Update March 21, 3:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for San Antonio and most of Central Texas.
The watch — which includes warnings for tornadoes, hail and strong winds — is in effect until 10 p.m.Monday. The counties under a tornado watch include Bexar, Kendall, Hays, Comal and Travis counties.
The city of Boerne urged residents to be cautious in a series of social media posts.
“Stay weather aware, Boerne, we are now under a tornado watch,” Boerne said in a tweet. “The biggest threats this afternoon/evening will be large hail, damaging winds and possibly a tornado. After today, the weather for the rest of the week looks great.”
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for San Antonio and most of Central Texas.
National Weather ServiceUpdate March 21, 12:20 p.m.
The National Weather Service has increased the risk for large, potentially damaging hail on Monday afternoon.
The areas most at risk are east of Interstate 35 and north of Interstate 10, the weather service said. These areas are at moderate risk.
Most of east Bexar County is now in an enhanced risk.
The last time South Central Texas saw this high of a risk level was in 2015, the weather service said.
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Update March 21, 6:40 a.m.:
The National Weather Service has expanded the area it expects to experience severe weather Monday afternoon, including parts of northeast Bexar County.
Most of San Antonio and Bexar County are under a slight risk for severe weather, but strong isolated storms are possible, the weather service said. Cities like New Braunfels, Seguin and Austin are under an enhanced threat of severe storms.
As of Monday morning, over 9,000 of CPS Energy customers are without power on Monday morning because of a combination of dust and rain on power lines and equipment, the utility said.
According to the weather service, storms are expected to form along U.S. 281 north of San Antonio between 1 and 4 p.m. and then move east. Hail and tornadoes are the primary threats, but damaging winds are also possible, the weather service said.
Of concern to officials are the strong storms that are expected to form during rush hour along the Interstate 35 corridor.
March 20, 2022:
Severe storms are coming to San Antonio on Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The morning will bring a round of rain and strong to severe storms will develop during the mid- to late afternoon. All severe hazards are possible, the weather service said, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
The severe storm warming ends at 3 a.m. Tuesday.
As of Sunday morning, the weather service expanded the slight-risk and enhanced-risk regions farther to the southwest to include the San Antonio area.
“The highest risk is just east of the San Antonio area, but technically San Antonio could see some tropical storms tomorrow,” said Keith White, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
Get ready
To be prepared for the storm, the weather service recommends having multiple ways to receive weather warnings accesible Monday, including:
— via internet
— wireless emegency alerts on your phone
— local television or radio stations
— outdoor sirens
— from family, friends and co-workers
— a NOAA weather radio
The weather service also recommends knowing where a best shelter option is located if tornado strikes. Good options include:
— above or below ground tornado storm shelter
— a specifically designed FEMA safe room
— an interior room of a well-constructed home or building
— a basement
“Seek the best available refuge area immediately when a tornado warning is issued,” wrote the National Weather Service on Twitter. “Your chance of surviving a tornado is excellent if you follow these guidelines.”
